A34 - North Shore News - Sunday, August 14, 2011
PETS
The silence of the dogs: worth imitating
AS I sat on the deck of my girlfriend’s place sipping an ice cold, um . . . lemonade, we watched her ailing senior dog nap in the shade of a maple tree.
I understand how much we’d like our dogs to be able to communicate in our language; it would certainly make things like figuring out an illness or even training that much easier. But I believe that dogs, or any animal for that matter, are not intended to speak our With a tear in her eye my language. friend turned to me and said, How boring would that “Gosh I wish they could talk, be? All the joyful hours we it would make things so much Canine Connection spend watching our dogs play, easier.” Trying to lighten the or imagining what they are mood I said, “If I had a dollar Joan Klucha thinking about, would be lost. for every time I heard a dog When we observe their client say that over the past world of silent communication we can stretch decade and a half we’d be sitting on the deck our imaginations and envision them dreaming of my ranch property right now.” of chasing squirrels. As they wrestle with other My attempt at humour failed miserably to dogs we communicate in our language with lift her mood. other humans as we narrate the play-by-play. With a frown she said, “Seriously, I could On a more profound level I believe dogs get old Freddie here to tell me how I can make the last few years of his life easier for him are an important tool in our present society, helping to keep our human social skills alive. instead of all the guess work.” Dogs communicate with their own species At one time or another — usually in very well, and this is done — more often frustration at what our dog is doing and than not — silently, through body language why — most of us wish our dogs could talk. Advertisement
Play it safe over summer.
Whether you’re entertaining family and friends or just looking to cook up a tasty dinner, barbeques present a safety risk to you and your home. Before you fire ‘er up, remember these handy tips: L 5O,=I4 O"$#2 = $=4 barbeque with the lid open. A leaking or open valve can cause propane to accumulate under the lid or in the basin, and the gas could explode when lit.
L 3&%96& I90 206K 9K 2#& propane, the match or lighter should already be burning. If the barbeque doesn’t ignite, turn the control valves off, wait five minutes and try again. L CK;& 2#& <=6<&70& "4 O"2@ :9 K92 N9.& "2 or leave it unattended. L 3=6<&70& 9K = 49O": 406%=;&@ =,=I %69N shrubbery, overhangs and foot traffic. Ensure a flow of air for combustion and ventilation. L D&.&6 04& = <=6<&70& "K:9964 96 "K = garage. L (4& O9K$?#=K:O&: 02&K4"O4 =K: <&,=6& of loose clothing that could catch fire. L 1#&;! %96 O&=!4> F&=.& 2#& <=6<&70& valve off and the cylinder valve on. Spread a soapy solution on all fittings
Call 310-2345 or click on bcaa.com
■ The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. By Joan Palmer. Chartwell Books; $14.95.
Terry Peters tpeters@nsnews.com THERE is a wealth of information on various dog breeds in this book. An interesting look at the history and origins of canines served as part of the overview
of dogs that includes choosing a puppy, breeding and basic care. A fascinating presentation of the distinctive markings and formations for different breeds is illustrated through extensive photographs. Page after page is filled with dog breeds that come from the main categories: Working, Herding, Hounds, Terriers, Toy Breeds, and more. Dog lovers will want to dig in!
and the hose. If bubbles appear, you have a leak and you must repair or replace the part(s) before using the barbeque again. Check the valves too. L '#&K I90 %"K"4# <=6<&70"K$@ 206K 9%% the cylinder valve first, then the grill controls. This lets the gas in the lines burn off. L G&&8 = %"6& &*2"K$0"4#&6 #=K:I> /9KM2 26I to put out a grease fire with water - it will only spread the flames. If fire has engulfed the propane tank, evacuate the area immediately - at least 200 metres away from the tank - and call the fire department.
INSURANCE OUTLOOK
HOME INSURANCE WITH EDWARD MACADAM
as they showed each other the text messages or Facebook updates on their cellphones. I wondered: what kind of a generation of noncommunicators will these teenagers raise when they become adults with children of their own? So maybe — with their silent language — dogs are forcing us to keep communication skills real and honest. We can’t text message a dog to let them know what we are asking of them; we have to do that directly, person to dog. So instead of wishing our dogs could speak to us, maybe it’s time we made the effort to become more like our dogs and speak to one another once again, like we used to before the social networks and cellphones took over our lives.
books The scoop on dog breeds
BC HYDRO VEGETATION MAINTENANCE - PADMOUNTED TRANSFORMERS
Another summertime fun activity is cooling off in the pool. Owning or using a swimming pool represents a liability risk. Follow a few poolside rules to keep everyone safe:
To assure continued safety and system reliability, BC Hydro is removing vegetation around all BC Hydro padmounted transformers to clearance standards. Vegetation management work in North Vancouver, West Vancouver and on Bowen Island will continue until March 31, 2012. BC Hydro requires the area around its electrical equipment to remain clear for the following reasons:
L )08&6."4& ;#"O:6&K near water at all times. L -K69OO ;#"O:6&K "K swimming lessons. Water safety skills are life skills and must be learned. L (4& B+/4 J8&649K=O %O9=2=2"9K :&.";&4A for children under five when playing near the water. L H% "K :90<2 9% 2#& :&82#@ :9 K92 :".& "K head first, instead wade into the water.
Edward MacAdam is an Insurance Advisor at BCAA. He can be reached at edward.macadam@bcaa.com.
for the safety of our employees operating the equipment, to prevent overheating of the equipment, and
O
to facilitate emergency repairs or replacement of the equipment.
O
2.5m from any and all doors
O
0.9m from all other sides
Prior to BC Hydro removing the vegetation, customers may prune or maintain
L E=!& 406& I90 4&2 ;O&=6 60O&4> Last but not least, ensure your home, belongings, and liabilities are adequately covered. Contact a BCAA Insurance representative to learn more about BCAA Home Insurance and how it can help protect your home and your most valued asset – your family.
O O
The clearances around the transformers are:
vegetation around transformers on their property to these clearances. If not, vegetation removal will be completed by BC Hydro crews. 2866
Summer season is in full swing, with great weather, summer vacations, and outdoor entertaining the order of the day. But spending more time outdoors using backyard barbeques and having pool parties can leave you and your home vulnerable to damage and liability. Before you fire up the BBQ or jump in for a cool down, remember these safety precautions to keep your family, friends, and home safe.
and eye contact, an art we humans have been losing for many years and sadly, thanks to text messaging, at an increasingly rapid rate. It’s ironic that as we wish our dogs could communicate with us in our own language we are becoming less willing to communicate with other humans face-to-face. We are compensating by adding smiley faces or frowns or LOLs to the end of our messages to convey facial expressions or emotions lost in this impersonal form of communication. It’s even worse with our youngsters. As I sat in a coffee shop the other day I watched a few adolescents out for a coffee. They rarely spoke to each other or looked at each other except for the occasional grunt
For more information about safely planting near BC Hydro equipment and clearance standards, visit bchydro.com/safety
For 50 years, BC Hydro has been providing clean, reliable electricity to you. Today we are planning for the next 50 years by investing in new projects, upgrading existing facilities and working with you to conserve energy through Power Smart.